Multiple perforator



Nov. 13, 1945. g. KERN 2,389,105

MULTIPLE PERFORATOR Filed May 12, 1944 s She'ts-Sheet 1 [NIL AE'AW.ATZWH/VEY Nov. 13, 1945. I E. KERN MULTIPLE PERFORATOR Filed May 12,1944 3"Sheets-Sheet 2 [WE/V727,?

' EMA Kile/v Arm/mm Nov. 13, 1945. KERN 2,389,105

MULTIPLE PERFORATOR Filed May 12, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 5 E 715. ll 25Patented Nov. 13, 1945 MULTIPLE PERFORATOR Emil Kern, Long Island City,N. Y., assignor to Acco Products, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application May 12, 1944, Serial No. 535,337

22 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in multiple perforating devices.

The present invention is concerned with perforating devices of the kindfor punching holes in sheet material, such as sheets of paper, tofacilitate binding of such sheets with fasteners or like means in filesor binders. Fasteners of a kind commonly used to bind sheets in a fileor the like usually are furnished in a plurality of sizes; that is, thefasteners are formed with prongs or like elements, to be extendedthrough the holes unched in the sheet, which are spaced apart atdifferent distances. Further, different types of file folders, such asfor example, the kind having ring or post binders, often havedifferently spaced rings or posts, thus necessitating also selectedperforation of the sheets to be'filed therein.

Known types of perforating devices commonly used to perforate sheets toreceive or be received in binders often have punches mounted firmlythereon o as to perforate the sheets at fixed points. Others areprovided with a plurality of punches mounted for lateral adjustment andwhich are operated in unison each time their operating lever or othermeans is actuated. Still other types of multiple perforating devicesembody means whereby selective operation of one or more of the punchestherein is effected upon actuation of the operating means. However, the

latter type of perforating device usually involves 1 a complicated,costly construction incapable of simple and easy manipulation andoperation by inexperienced operators and hence are entirely unsuited forgeneral ofiice use.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide adurable multiple perforating device of the kind exemplified herein whichis not expensive to manufacture and is simple in construction and whichmay be easily and quickly manipulated so as to affect accurateadjustment of it punches to thereby affect the perforation of sheets orthe like at any selected locations and in any number within the range ofthe device and further, one in which theselection of punches to beoperated may be easily determined and quickly effected by inexperiencedoperators.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple perforatingdevice of the character described with' novelly constructed means on itsplurality of punches which may be easily and quickly engaged ordisengaged with an operating element so as to effect selected actuationof any one or all of said punches.

Another object of the invention is to Provide a multiple perforatingdevice embodying sturdy and relatively inexpensive die plates and punchstandards embodied in an integral structure intended for easy lateraladjustment on their base.

Another object is to provide a perforating device with' a novellyconstructed base embodying efficient means to provide easy precisionadjustment and securement of a plurality of punch standards.

A further object of the invention is to provide a perforating device ofthe character described with a novelly constructed base and removablereceptacle to receive waste resulting from operation of the punch orpunches carried thereon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a multipleperforating device with an operating element of a kind which isselectively positioned easily so as to effect operation of one or moreof a plurality of punches therein.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by Way of illustration, show preferredembodiments and the principle thereof and which are considered to be thebest modes for applying that principle. Other embodiments of theinvention embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used andstructural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the present invention and the purview of theappended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a multiple perforating deviceembodying features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the perforating device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the base.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a standard, taken on line 65 ofFig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken on line ll of Fig.6. I

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a multiple perforating device embodyingother features of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on line Ill-4D of Fig. 9,showing the punch standard partly in elevation.

Fig. 11 is a, vertical sectional view taken substantially on line llllof Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line I2-l2 of Fig. 11 butillustrating the link in an elevated or inoperative position.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. showing a modified form of standardand link construction, and illustrating the link when disengaged indotted lines and partially broken away.

Fig. 14 is a sectional detail view taken on line I4I4 of Fig. 13.

The perforating device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, has asubstantially rectangular base ll formed with its margins turneddownwardly as at 12 so as to provide an elevated support upon which aremounted, for lateral adjustment thereon, a plurality of punch standardsindicated as at l3 and I3. The standards, best illustrated in Fig. 6,are identical in construction and each includes a substantially solidbody l4 having a portion of its bottom face offset upwardly, as at l5,and having a die plate l6 suitably secured firmly to its bottom face, asby machine screws l1, so as to provide an integral structure.

The die plate l6 consists of a substantially elongated strip of sheetmaterial, such as hardened steel, and it is suitably apertured, as atI8, in its rearwardly extending end portion so as to receive freelytherethrough the threaded stem 19 of a square-headed bolt 2|. As shown,the aperture H3 in the die plate [6 is in registering alignment with alateral T-slot 22 formed in the top face of the base II and the squarehead of the bolt 2| is located therein in such manner that its head isengaged in the enlarged portion of the T-slot 22 so that when a thumbnut 23, threaded on the upwardly extending threaded stem IQ of saidbolt, is tightened downwardly, the die plate and consequently thestandard I3 is firmly secured in any position of lateral adjustment uponthe base ll. Proper alignment of the punch standard is assuredpreferably by striking a pair of tongues Ifia downwardly on the lateraledges of the dieplate for sliding engagement in the T-slot 22. Accurateselective adjustment of the standards [3 and 13' along the base II isbest effected by the provision of a gauge marking 24 on each die platewhich cooperates with scale markings 25 on a scale 26 secured, as byscrews 21, to the top face of the base I I as best illustrated in Fig.2.

The body !4 of each standard has a suitable guide opening, as at 28, toreceive for free vertical reciprocation therein a punch 29. The upperend of the punch 29 carries firmly a transverse pin 3! which extendsoutwardly on each side thereof and is journalled in downwardly turnedside walls 32 of a link 33. The link 33 preferably is formed ofsheetmaterial, such as sheet steel, and it includes the spaced sidewalls 32, a connecting front wall 34 and a top wall 35, the latter beingformed integral with and bent substantially at right angles to the frontwall 34 so as to lie between the side walls 32. The side walls 32 ofsaid link 33 extend rearwardly of the punch 29, as shown, and snuglyembrace opposite sides of an ear 36 formed integral with the body I4 ofthe standard and extended upwardly therefrom. The link 33 is suitablyfulcrumed to the ear 36 preferably by means of a pin 37 which issecurely anchored in its side walls 32 and extends through an enlargedopening 38 in said ear so as to provide a loose pivotal mountingtherefor.

The top wall of the link 33' extends rearwardly a short distance beyondthe Vertical plane of the pin 31 so as to overlie the top inclinedsurface of the ear 39. Accordingly, when the link is in the positionillustrated in Fig. 6 with the punch 29 in an elevated position, therear portion of the top wall 35 bears firmly against the top surface ofthe car 36 so as to limit upward pivotal movement thereof, whichmovement is effected by the tendency of a compression spring 39,surrounding the punch 29, to expand.

Movement of the punch 29 downwardly so as to perforate a, sheet orsheets inserted into the gap 49 provided between the die plate 16 andthe elevated bottom face I5 of the standard body is effected by manualactuation of a suitable operating element such as a reciprocablyrotatable shaft 42 having an operating arm 43 firmly secured on one endthereof. The extent to which a sheet may be inserted into the ga 49, soas to control the location of the perforation with respect to the edgeof the sheet may be variably determined by an adjustable stop plate 4|secured as by a screw 41a to the side of the standard body M.

The operating shaft 42 preferably is non-circular in cross-section, asshown, and it is intended to be extended through a similarly shapedopening in each of a pair of wings 44 formed as extensions of the sidewalls 32 of each of the links 33. It should be evident at this time thatupon applying manual pressure downwardly at the free end 45 of the arm43, the shaft 42 is rotated in a counter-clockwise directionsufiiciently to cause downward movement of both links 33 in unison so asto thereby effect a multiple punching operation. The compression springs39, on each punch, return the operating element to its initial positionwhen pressure is removed from the arm 43. The shaft 42 preferably hasone of its faces lying closely against the top surface of the top wall35 of each of the links so that the pressure exerted upon rotation ofsaid shaft is transmitted to said top wall 35 and most of said force isabsorbed thereby, thus relieving the Wings 44 of excessive strain.Inadvertent bending upwardly of the rear end of the top wall 35 of eachlink resulting from repeated use, is averted by extending a pin 46through the Wings 44 at a position to dispose the pin in close contactwith the outside face of said top wall, as shown.

Perforation of the sheets through operation of the punches in the mannerdescribed hereinabove is affected by providing a die-opening 41 in thedie-plate IB beneath and in vertical alignment with the punch 29. Thewaste material passing through the die-opening 41 drops down into thebase I I through one of a plurality of waste openings 48 formed in saidbase and is received in a receptacle 49 best shown in Figs, 4 and 5. Thereceptacle 49 preferably consists of an elongated trough-like memberformed of sheet material and closed at its ends and it is frictionallyretained within a lateral channel 59 formed in the bottom face of thebase, as shown. It is preferred, however, that one wall of the lateralchannel 59 be provided by a removable bar 5! which is secured to thebottom face of the base as by screws 52 and preferably terminates shortof the ends of said base so as to leave at least the end portions of oneof the side walls of the receptacle 49 exposed for a purpose to bedescribed presently. The bottom surface of the base ll adjacent the wallof the lateral channel 59 is suitably cut away, as at 53, adjacent eachend of the receptacle 49 so as to expose end portions of the other wallof the 7 receptacle. Thus means is provided whereby the receptacle maybe grasped at either end and withdrawn from the lateral channel "for thepurpose of-emptying itof waste.

A primary featureof the present'form-of perforating device resides inthe fact that either one or both of the punches shown in the presentillustration may be rendered operative or inoperative in a very simpleand eificient manner, so as to enable the perforating device to be usedfor perforating a sheet with fewer holes than there are punches on thebase. To accomplish this, the shaft '42 of the operating element may beslid easily laterally relative to the base so as to withdraw it from itsengagement with the wings 44 of, for example, the link 33 on standardl3. Thereafter, manipulation of the operating arm 43 Will causeoperation of the punch carried in the standard l3 only, the'punc'hin thestandard l3 remaining inoperative. It will thus be apparent that theinstant form of perforating device is easily adapted for use inperforming a plurality of perforations in a sheet or s'heets'at anydesired position or in any'spaced relation and that iii-desired, sheetsmay be perforated with a single perforation only. It s'hould beunderstood also that more than the two standards illustrated can bearranged on the base H in which event, all or any lesser number may beoperativel-y engaged by the operating shaft 42.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. '9to 12 inclusive, the

multiple perforating device there shown includes the base 'II which isconstructed like the one described hereinabove and its various parts areidentified by corresponding numerals. In this disclosure, theperforating device is provided with a plurality of like punch standards54, each "preferably formed of sheet material, such as-sheet steel,suitably bent to provide spaced apart side walls 55 and top and bottomwalls 56 and 5! respectively. The bottom wall 51 is secured, as by"rivets 58, "to a spacer plate 59 welded or otherwise firmly attached tothe top face of a die-plate 6|. Thetop and bottom walls 56 and 51 aresuitably provided with aligned guide openings to re- :ceive and guide apunch '62 having a transverse "pin 63 firmly anchored at its upper end.A tension spring 64, arranged around the punch '62 between the top wall56 and pin 63, retains the punch normally in the elevated positionshown. A link 65 is associated with each punch and said links preferablyare formedof sheet material such as sheet steel bent to provide a topwall 56 and depending side walls 61. The link 65 is fitted over theupper end of the punch '62 in such manner that the transverse pin 63extends through enlarged openings 68 in the side walls thereof so as toprovide a loose pivotal connection between the link and the pin.

The rearwardly extending end of the link '65 normally lies between apair 'of upstanding ears 6-9 formed as extensions of the side walls 55of the standard 54 and its side walls are provided with irregularlyshaped openings H which normally are in registering alignment withcircular holes 12 in each of the embracing ears 59. .An operating shaft33, forming a part of an actuating element is extended normally throughthe aligned openings ll and holes 12 in all of the standards 54 andassociated links 65 and said shaft 73 is formed in cross-section toconform to the shape of .and fit snugly into the holes "H whereby saidlinks are rotated downwardly in unison so as to lower their associatedpunches 62 upon partial r0- tation -of said shaft when the operating arml4 thereon is-depressed. The instant constructionis characterizedfurther by the provision "of means whereby the strain of operation,while perforating sheets, is transmitted directly to the related link65. Accordingly, the top wall 66 of the link is in direct contact withthe upper end of the related punch 62 and as a result the-connecting pin63 is subjected to no strain during a perforating operation.

In the event any one or more'of the punches 62 are to be renderedinoperative so that a number of perforations to be performed in thesheets interposed therebeneath maybe less than the number of punches onthe base, the operating shaft 13 is withdrawn laterally until it isdisengaged from the link -65 of the punch to be rendered inoperative.The disengaged link is then swung about its fulcrum 63-458 upwardly intoa position substantially as illustrated in Fig. 12. The shaft 13 maythen be reinserted into the circular holes 12 of the related ears 69 soas to provide an adequate bearing therefor.

The standards 54 are, of course, laterally 'ad- ,justable on the base IIin the same manner'as in the device described hereinabove and the dieplates 61 are therefore provided with squareheaded bolts 2! and thumbnuts 23 for ooperative binding engagement in the T-slots 22 of saidbase.

The punch standard and link construction illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14and intended to be mounted upon the base I previously described, issubstantially like that shown in Fig. 10 but, in this instance, thestandard 15 is formed of a solid piece of material, such as aluminum,and is provided with a pair of lugs or ears [6 each having a circularhole 11 therethrough to receive the operating shaft 13 which alsoengages firmly in an ir-' regular opening 78 provided in a relatively.solid 'link 19 disposed therebetween. The link 19 extends forwardly ofthe ear 16, as shown, and is suitably cut out, as .at 8|, to providedepending side walls 82 at its front end only, which receivetherebetween the upper end of the punch .62. A transverse pin 63' onsaid punch extends through enlarged openings 83 in the link side walls82 so as to provide a loose pivotal connection between the link andpunch.

It is preferred that the link 19 also be formed of aluminum or otherrelatively soft material, consequently a wear plate 84 is secured firmlyon the bottom face of the top wall thereof, within the cut out 81, forbearing contact with the top of the punch 62' during a perforatingoperation of the device.

Upon lateral withdrawal of the operating shaft 13, the link :9 may beswung upwardly about its pivot 63-83 into substantially the dotted lineposition illustrated so as to render its related punch inoperative whenthe shaft 13 is again r-otated to actuate the punches remainingconnected therewith.

In each of the embodiments disclosed in the accompanying drawings, thebase H is provided with a lateral groove 84a, which lies beneath thefront margins of the die plates arranged thereon, to "frictionallyreceive a gauge bar 85 useful in 10- cating a sheet relative to thepunches.

Frorn't'he foregoing description, it will be apparout that the presentinvention facilitates easy adjustment of a plurality of perforatingelements on a base and embodies a durable structure wherein one or moreof the perforating elements may be disassociated from a common actuatingelement easily and in a simple and efiicientman- 'ner without the use oftools andby inexperienced the ear on its related standard, said linkshaving projecting Wings with openings, and an operating elementincluding a shaft selectively extended through said projecting wings.

3. A perforating device comprising a base, a T-slot co-extensive withthe length of said base, a plurality of plates arranged on said baseeach having a die opening, a standard of sheet metal bent to provide atop and bottom with guide openings therein and projecting ears mountedfirmly on each plate, means on said plates engaged in the T-slot tosecure the plates in a selected position of lateral adjustment on thebase, punches supported in said guide openings, a link pivotallyconnected at one end to each punch, and an operating element journalledin said ears and engaged with the links.

4. A perforating device comprising a base, a slot co-extensive With thelength of said base, a plurality of plates arranged on said base eachhaving a die opening, a standard of sheet metal bent to provide a topand bottom with guide openings therein and projecting ears mountedfirmly on each plate, means carried in said plates and engaged in theslot to secure the plates in any position of lateral adjustment on thebase, punches supported in said guide openings, 2. link of sheet metalbent to provide a top and depending side walls pivotally connected atone end to each punch, and an operating element journalled in said earsand engaged with the side' walls of said links.

5. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of standardsthereon each provided with a guide opening therein and projecting ears,punches supported in the guide openings, a link associated with eachstandard and pivotally connected to each punch, and an operating elementjournalled in said ears and removably engaged with selected of saidlinks.

6. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of standardsthereon each provided with a guide opening therein and projecting ears,punches supported in the guide openings, links one fulcrumed on eachpunch, and an operating element removably engaged with all of said linksand ears.

'7. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of standardseach provided with a guide opening therein and spaced apertured ears,punches supported in the guide openings, links one pivotally connectedat an end to each punch, said links overlappingthe ears on the relatedstandard and having openings registering with the apertures in saidears, and an operating element including a shaft journalled in theapertured ears and engaged in the aligned openings.

8. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of standards eachprovided with a guide opening therein and projecting apertured ears.

. punches supported in the guide openings, links one pivotally'connected at an end to each punch, said links normally lying between'theprojecting ears on the related standard and having openings registeringwith the apertures in said ears, and an operating element including ashaft selectively journalled in the apertured ears for engagement withthe aligned link openings.

9. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of standards eachprovided with a guide opening therein and projecting apertured ears,punches supported in the guide openings, links one pivotally connectedat an end to each punch, said links having openings to register with theapertures in said ears, and an operating element including a shaftselectively journalled in the apertured ears for engagement with thealigned link openings.

10. A perforating device comprising a base, a guide co-extensive withthe length of said base, a plurality of plates arranged on said baseeach having a die opening, a standard having openings therein andupwardly projecting ears mounted on each'plate, means carried in saidplates and engaged with said guide to secure the plates in laterallyadjusted positions on the base, punches supported in said openings inthe standards, a link fulcrumed on each punch, and an operating elementjournalled in said ears and engaged with the links.

11. In a perforating device, a base, a channel in the top face of saidbase, standards slidable on said base each supporting a punch andincluding die plates having tongues guided in the channel, said basehaving openings underlying the die plates, a channel in the bottom faceof said base and with which said openings communicate having one of itssaid walls formed by a member attached to said base and a receptacle forwaste material frictionally retained in said last named channel.

12. In a perforating device, a base, a channel in the top face of saidbase, standards slidable on said base each supporting a punch andincluding die plates having tongues guided in the channel, means on eachdie plate engaged in the channel to retain the standards in selectedpositions on said base, said base having openings underlying the dieplates, a channel in the bottom face of said base and with which saidopenings communicate having one of its said walls formed by a memberattached to said base and a receptacle for waste material frictionallyretained in said last named channel.

13. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of standardsthereon each provided with a guide opening therein, punches supported inthe guide openings, links non-detachably conected none to each punch,and an operating element removably engaged with a selected one or moreof said links.

14. A perforating device comprising a base, a standard thereon providedwith a guide opening,

' a punch supported in the guide opening, a link standard mounted onsaid base having at least one apertured ear, a punch supported in eachstandard, a link having a Wall rested against a top end of said punch,said link having a loose inseparable connection with the punch, and anoperating element joumalled in said apertured ear and selectivelyengaged with the link operable so as to move the link to actuate thepunch.

17. In a perforating device including a standard having a reciprocablepunch guided therein, an operating element, a link to selectivel connectsaid operating element with said punch, said link being directlyengageable with the punch so as to effect a punching operation therebywhen actuated upon operation of the operating element, and meansconnecting said link and said punch to prevent relative displacement.

18. A perforating device comprising a base, a standard provided with aguide opening therein and an aperture, a punch supported in the guideopening, a link non-detachably connected at an end to the top end of thepunch, said link having an opening adjacent its other end to align withthe aperture, and an operating element including a shaft pivotallyconnecting said link to said standard and actuable to move the linkrelative thereto.

19. A perforating device comprising a base, a standard provided with aguide opening therein and an aperture, a punch supported in the guideopening, a link non-detachably connected at an end to the top end of thepunch, said link having its other end disposed in overlapping relationto said aperture, and an operating'element including a shaft pivotallyconnecting said standard to said link, said shaft being journalled forfree rotation in said aperture and having an operative connection withthe link so that said link is moved through an are when said shaft isrotatably actuated.

20. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of one-piecestandards each including a body and a die plate mounted on said base forlateral adjustment thereon, a punch mounted in each body, an operatingelement, and links fulcrumed on each punch for selective engagement bythe operating element'so as to efiect operation of selected punches.

21. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of one-piecestandards thereon each including a body and a die plate, each bodyhaving a guide opening therein, punches supported in the guide openings,links one pivotall connected to each punch, and an operating elementremovably engaged with selected of said links.

22. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of one-piecestandards, each including a body and a die plate, each body having aguide opening therein, punches supported in the guide openings, linksone pivotally connected at an end to each punch, and an operatingelement including a shaft selectively engageable with said links toactuate selected punches.

EMIL KERN.

